What We Believe

The following paragraphs simply summarize what we believe as a church family.  We believe the Bible and teach it to be perfectly true. Every belief and teaching of Faith Baptist Church flows from God’s Word.

The Bible is God’s Word to us.

We believe that God inspired the Bible, the Old and New Testaments, and that it guides our whole lives, directing all matters of belief and practice. It is truth without any mixture of error and is trustworthy, authoritative, and applicable to our daily lives. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah 55:11)

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe.

We believe that humankind is loved by the one holy and eternal God who is the Creator of all things. He has one nature, one essence, and one substance; yet manifests Himself to man as the Godhead in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three are coequal and are one God. (Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 3:22; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 4:4)

Jesus is the Son of God.

We believe Jesus Christ to be the one and only Saviour of mankind. We believe Jesus Christ to be eternally God and to possess all the attributes of Deity. He was virgin-born, God incarnate, coequal with the Father and Holy Spirit. He lived a sinless and selfless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again someday to earth to reign as King. (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:1-5; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9-10; 1 Timothy 2:5; 6:14-15)

The Holy Spirit lives in each Christian from salvation.

We believe the Holy Spirit of God is a person who has personality and all the attributes of Deity. He is coequal with the Father and the Son of God and has always been involved in the affairs of mankind. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He provides Christians with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, and empowers us for service as we seek to live under His control daily.  (Acts 1:8, 13:2; John 14:16-17, 16:7-13; Romans 8:9-11; Galatians 5:25; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2)

People are the supreme object of God’s creation.

We believe that God created man and woman, His perfect design, with each person uniquely formed in His image to be like Him in character and given a purpose as part of His redemptive plan for all creation.  Man was created to have fellowship with God but became separated in that relationship through an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”. Sin separates us from God and causes many problems in our life. As a result, man cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love. (Genesis 1:26,27; Psalms 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 139:13-16; Colossians 2:13-15)

Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it.

We believe that those who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour are born again, eternally secure in Him, and can enjoy the assurance of being saved by grace through faith. God offers all people the gift of eternal life and redemption from our fallen state, from death, which is the result of our sin, and from suffering eternity separated from God. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. The genuine result of a decision to follow Jesus Christ is a commitment to live a sanctified life of obedience to His Word. (Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; 14:6; Romans 5:1,8, 6:23, 8:23-39; 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24-25)

People will exist eternally with or without God.

We believe people were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life in Heaven. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence. (Matthew 25:31-34, 41; John 3:16, 14:17; Romans 6:23; Philippians 2:5-11; Revelation 20:15;)

Baptism is symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

We believe once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, baptism is a way for us to publicly declare our new life in Christ. It is also a step of obedience based on God’s commands and allows us to follow the example of Jesus, who submitted himself to baptism to “fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:18-20; Acts 2:41, 8:12; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12.)

God works through His Local Church in the world today.

We believe that, as recipients of God’s grace and salvation, we are members of the body of Christ – His Church. We believe the local church is composed of members who have been saved and baptized according to the command of Christ, and have voluntarily united together for the purposes of worship, fellowship, service, and observance of the ordinances of baptism and communion. Each member of the local church is a minister who should use their gifts as part of God’s plan in preaching the gospel and demonstrating His love to the world.  (Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 1:15; Acts 2:41-43; Acts 11:15; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 15: 51-58; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:12-14; Ephesians 5:25-30.)

Jesus Christ is coming again!

We believe in the literal interpretation of the Scriptures in their grammatical and historical context. We believe in the pre-tribulational rapture of the church saints, followed by the seven-year tribulation. We believe in the pre-millennial return of Christ to the earth and His literal rule and reign as King of kings for 1,000 years. Following this one-thousand-year reign is the Great White Throne judgment and then the new heaven and new earth.  (1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9; Revelation 19-22)

Sign gifts in the Church have ceased.

We believe that the sign gifts were temporary gifts given by the Spirit during the beginning of the Church and do not practice speaking in tongues, faith healing, sensationalism, or believe in extra-Biblical revelation. We are not part of the modern day charismatic movement.  (1 Corinthians 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Mark 16:17-20; Hebrews 2:3-4; 2 Timothy 4:20; 3 John 2)

God made mankind both male and female.

We believe the two distinct, complementary genders of male and female together reflect the image and nature of God. We therefore recognise the biological sex of a person as observed at birth and require practices consistent with that gender. We believe in the biblical, traditional family view of marriage between man and woman as a heterosexual and monogamous couple. (Genesis 2:24; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29)

Life and Death are in God’s hands.

We believe human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Furthermore, God alone has the right to determine the termination of human life; therefore, any form of euthanasia mercy killing is contrary to the will of God.  (Job 3:16; 139:14-16; Ecclesiastes 7:17, Psalm 90:10-12)